Feeler mechanism for looms



F. LACEY.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19. I919.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

3' M1 114. J Ad arzy F. LACEY. .FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-19.1919.

. 1,362,1 10. Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Invent or:

UNITED STATES FRED LACEY, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORTO DRAPER CORPORATION, OF

HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14:, 1920.

Application filed August 19, 1919. Serial No. 318,468.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED LAOEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Feeler Mechanism for Looms, of which the following description, in con nection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to feeler mechanisms for looms whereby the operative condition of a loom is changed when the filling in the shuttle becomes substantially exhausted. Various types of feeler mechanisms have heretofore been suggested. In one of these previously suggested types the feeler has been given a movement longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling has become substantially exhausted on a detecting beat. This movement of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle has been effected either by the frontward pressure of the surface within the shuttle on a detecting beat, or by means, such as a. spring, acting to impart the side swipe or lateral movement of the feeler at the critical point of filling exhaustion. The present invention relates more particularly to the second type of feeler mechanisms wherein the lateral movement of the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle is effected by yielding means, such as a spring. In this type of feeler mechanisms, the spring has heretofore been held under tension and has been restrained from exerting its moving force against the feeler by special means which freed the spring to such action on each detecting beat. These special means for pre venting the spring action during a part of the loom operation, has necessitated the addition of the spring restraining means and required the addition of parts which detract somewhat from the sensitiveness of the feeler.

An important feature of the present invention, therefore, consists in the feeler mechanism of the so-called side swipe type wherein lateral movement of the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle is brought about at intervals by yielding means which is normally tensionless and which is placed under tension at the critical period by a sliding connection with an operating member. Since the yielding means or spring is normally tensi-onless and has no effect upon the connecting parts, it is necessary to impart to the spring on a detecting beat, suflicient tension to insure responsive move ment of the feeler, provided the filling in the shuttle is substantially exhausted.

- In carrying this feature of the invention into effect, the feeler is mounted for movement longitudinally of the shuttle, and spring tensioning means is provided, preferablyin the form of a toggle, to place the spring under tension tending to move the feeler laterally only after the feeler member has engaged the surface within the shuttle.

Other features and novel combinations of parts will, in addition to the above, be hereinafter described and then the invention will be definitely set forth in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the detecting side of the loom, showing the present invention associated therewith and illustrating sufficient portions of the loom to make clear its construction, and mode of operatlon;

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the action of the feeler and the spring tensioning means when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2, showing the action of the invention when the filling in the shuttle has become substantially exhausted.

Theloom frame may be of any desired or appropriate construction for supporting the operating parts and it has secured thereto the brackets 1, one at each side of the loom, provided with bearings for supporting the transverse or rock shaft 2 which is normally under the action of a spring tending to turn it in contra-clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 1. Secured to and rising from the rock shaft 2 is an arm 3 to which is pivotally connected at at the lug or support 5 having pivoted thereto at 6 and for movement in a generally horizontal plane, the actuator 7, the rear end portion of which is, by the lateral movement of the actuator adapted to be moved into or out of operative relation with an operating member 8. The operating member 8 may be either the weft hammer or a part connected or associated therewith, as usual in this type of looms. In the present instance it comprises an arm 9 which is secured to the weft hammer or cam follower and has an engaging end adapted to engage the rear end portion of the actuator 7 when the latter is moved to the left, Fig. 1.

Adjustably secured to the shipper stand 11, is a bracket 12 the upper portion 13 of which has pivotally connected thereto at 14, the feeler carrier which is adapted to move about the pivotal support 14 in a di rection longitudinally of the shuttle. The particular mounting of the feeler carrier 15 and the construction whereby it is adapted for movement longitudinally of the shuttle, may be variously contrived, many such instances having already been developed in feeler mechanisms.

Rising from the feeler carrier 15 are the rear and front bearing lugs 16 and 17 in which is mounted the feeler 18 having a toothed or roughened feeling end 19. In front of the rear bearing 16 the feeler 18 has a shouldered portion 20 between which and the rear surface of the front bearing 17 is interposed a spring 21 normally acting to hold the feeler 18 in its rearward feeling position, as indicated in Fig. 1.

The lay 22 may be of the usual construction and provided with the shuttle box 23 for receiving the shuttle 24 in which the filling carrier or bobbin 25 is held. The front wall of the shuttle box is provided with an opening 26 with which an opening 27 in the wall of the shuttle 24 registers when the shuttle is in the detecting box. This is a usual construction in feeler looms adapting the feeler to enter the shuttle and feel for the filling on a detecting beat.

Connected to the operating member or weft hammer 8 is an arm 28 provided with a slot 29 in which rides the pin or roll 30 connecting the toggle members 31 and 32. The toggle member 32 is connected at 33 to a fixed point which, in the present instance, comprises a bracket 34 projecting from the loom frame. Since the arm 32 is connected to a fixed point at 33, it follows that as the weft hammer or operating member 8 moves frontwardly and backwardly, that the pin 30 will be moved longitudinally of the slot 29 in the arm 28.

Advantage is taken of this movement of the pin or roll 30 longitudinally of the slot 29 to impart tension. to a yielding means suiiicient to insure side swipe or movement of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle when filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat. In the present instance the toggle member or red 31 extends from its pivotal connection 30 with, the arm 32 through a swivel block mounted upon an arm 36 extending from the feeler member 18. The swivel member is pivotally mounted at 37 on the arm 36 and through it loosely passes the rod 31, the construction being such that as the weft hammer or operating member 8 moves in its operating path, as indicated by full or dotted lines in Fig. 2, the rod 31 may be moved longitudinally relative to the swivel block 35 and cause the latter to oscillate on its pivotal mounting to accommodate the changing position of parts.

Secured to the rod 31 is a collar 38 between which and a loose collar 39 on the rod 31, is interposed the normally tensionless spring 40. In the present instance, the spring 40 has one end bearing upon or connected to the fixed collar 38,and its other end bearing upon or connected to the loose collar 39, the construction being such that when the operat ing member or weft hammer 8 is in its rearward position, as indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 2, and the rod 31 is drawn backwardly in the dotted line position, Fig. 2, the loose collar will be out of contact with the swivel block 35 and the spring 40 will not be under tension. As the lay moves frontwardly on a detecting beat, the engaging end 19 of the feeler enters the shuttle and engages the surface within the shuttle. As the lay continues its frontward movement, the weft hammer or operating member 8 moves from its rearward dotted line position, Fig. 2, toward its frontward full line position, Fig. 2, and during such movement the rod 31 is moved longitudinally to the left, Fig. 2, through the swivel block bringing the loose collar 39 against the swivel block and placing the spring 40 under tension. Owing to the arm 32 and its connection with the rod 31, the longitudinal movement of the rod 31 is increased by the sliding movement of the pin or roll 30 longitudinally of the slot 29 in the arm 28, and suiiicient tension is given the spring 40 to cause side swipe or movement of the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, when the filling is substantially exhausted, and no longer able to resist the tension of the spring by engagement with the toothed end of the feeler member.

The return of the feeler to its feeling position may be effected by the withdrawing action of the rod 31 which maybe provided with a stop or cotter pin 41. In the present instance, however, the feeler 18 is provided with a roll 42 on its front portion which, as the feeler returns to its rearward position under the call of the spring 21, after a detecting beat, rides along the inclined or cam surface 43 of a re-setting device, and the feeler is caused to move from the position indicated in Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 1. The re-setting device 43 may be variously contrived, but in the present instance consists of a plate 44 which may be secured to the feeler stand or other support and has an upwardly projecting portion pro-- vided with the inclined surface 45 along which the roller 42 moves as the feeler returns to, its rearward feeling position after a detecting beat.

Extending between the feeler and the ac tuator 7 is a rod 46, one end of which may be connected to the feeler carrier 15 at 47, and the other end of a flange 48 extending from the actuator 7, the construction being such that lateral or side swipe movement given to the feeler, as hereinbefore described, is transmitted to the actuator. In order to support the actuator 7 and yet permit its lateral movement with the feeler, suitable means, such as the supporting bracket 49, may be provided. In the pres ent instance the bracket 49 is secured to the loom frame and has an upward extension upon which the flange 48 of the actuator 7 rests with permissive lateral movement in response to the lateral or side swipe movement of the feeler.

Claims:

1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler to enter the shuttle and feel for the filling and that is mounted for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and is held from such movement on a detecting beat by the filling un til substantial exhaustion thereof, an oper ating member and an actuator, and a toggle connection between a fixed part of the loom, the operating member and feeler for moving the latter longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted.

2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler to enter the shuttle and feel for the filling and that is mounted for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and is held from such movement on detecting beat by the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, operating member and an actuator, a spring, and a toggle connection between a fixed part of the loom, the operating member and feeler for placing the spring under stress and cause it to move the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler that is mounted for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and is held from such movement on a detecting beat by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, an actuator connected with the feeler, a cam follower, a rod having a sliding connection with the cam follower and connected with the feeler, and a spring placed under stress 7 by the sliding member as the cam follower moves frontwardly and tending when under stress to move the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle.

4. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler that is mounted for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and is held from such movement on a detecting beat by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, an actuator connected with the feeler, a cam follower, a rod connected to the feeler and having a sliding connection with the cam follower, a toggle member having one end pivotally mounted at a fixed point and the other end connected to the rod to effect sliding movement of the rod relative to the cam follower, and a spring which is carried by the rod and is compressed as the cam follower moves frontwardly on a detecting beat.

5. In a filling replenishing loom, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement longitudinally of the shuttle and held from such movement on a detecting beat until the filling is substantially exhausted, an operating member and an actuator, a spring for moving the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling 1s substantially exhausted, and toggle means that is moved by and relative to the operating member on a detecting beatfor placing the sprin under stress.

6. n a filling replenishing loom, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement longitudinally of the shuttle and held from such movement on a detecting beat until the filling is substantially exhausted, an operating member and an actuator, a sprin for moving the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted, a spring compressing member having a sliding connection with the operating member, and means for moving the compressing member relative to the operating member as the latter moves frontwardly.

7. In a filling replenishing loom, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement longitudinally of. the shuttle and held from such movement on a detecting beat until the filling is substantially exhausted, an operating member and an actuator, a spring for moving the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted, a spring compressing member having a sliding connection with the operating member, and an arm for moving the compressing member to place stress upon the spring as the operating member moves frontwardly.

8. In a filling replenishing loom, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement longitudinally of the shuttle and held from such movement on a detecting beat until the filling is substantially exhausted, an operating member and an actuator, a spring for movin the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted, a rod that is moved by the operating member as it moves frontwardly for placing the spring under stress, and an arm connected to the rod and a fixed part of the loom for augmenting the stressing movement of the rod.

9. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

combination of a feeler carrier pivoted to placed under stress by frontward.movement swing in a direction longitudinally of the of the cam follower to act upon the feeler shuttle, a feeler mounted on the carrier, a carrier and tend to swing it on its pivotal 10 cam follower and an actuator, a toggle havmounting.

5 ing the pivotal connection of the toggle arms In testimony whereof I have signed my connected to the cam follower, one of the name to this specification. toggle arms carrying a spring which is FRED LACEY. 

